No word came from Ellen's parched lips, but he felt the cold shudder of suffering pass through her frame.

Several minutes passed, and still she raised not her head.

Impressively the venerable clergyman addressed her in tones and words that never failed to find their way to the orphan's heart.

He spoke of a love and mercy that sent these continued trials to mark her as more peculiarly His own.

He told of comfort, that even in such a moment she could feel.